Alan Ashby’s dismissal

I heard from dozens of you today regarding Alan Ashby’s firing. You’re upset. You think he got a raw deal.

Don’t tell me. Tell the Astros.

Drayton McLane is unlikely to change his mind about the matter, but the only chance is for him to hear from you in large numbers.

Nothing I write will make a difference. They don’t care what I think. They see me as a nuisance, someone who is always nit-picking.

If hundreds of you write, it might make a difference. I doubt it, but it might.

McLane said this morning on the radio he hasn’t received many e-mails. Maybe he doesn’t know how to check his e-mail. He should come to the Chronicle and go through our e-mail files. We’ve been flooded.

(He also said recently that money hasn’t been an object in this off-season’s lack of action. If I’d been standing near him when he said that, I would have ducked for cover. You know, the thing about lightning striking when you fib. Oh never mind.)

(Things are getting weird out there. Johnny Damon’s dad compared his son’s move from the Red Sox to the Yankees to Babe Ruth’s. Let’s see… Johnny Damon or Babe Ruth? Babe Ruth or Johnny Damon? Yeah, works for me.)

My guess is that McLane, Pam Gardner, etc., saw Ashby as too low-key, too objective. I’m guessing they want a shrieking homer, someone who’ll scream louder, see no wrong on the field and sell as many tickets as possible.

I could be totally wrong about the two kids who’ve been hired. They may be terrific.

But with all play-by-play men and no real analysts in the booth, the broadcasts can’t have as much insight as they had before. When Ashby spoke, he spoke from a position of authority. He’d actually been down there.

These new kids can’t have a frame of reference. What are they going to reflect on? That great 2002 Pawtucket team?

The Astros are McLane’s business, and he’s doing what he thinks is best for business. Only your opinion has any chance of swaying him in another direction.

I thought Milo and Alan were a terrific team. They played off one another. Alan corrected Milo, gently. He worked the clubhouse. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy. Maybe he should have screamed more.

From the e-mail bag…

No Rocket, No Ashby, Milo must babysit new recruits, and no run producer in the middle of the order. Please don’t tell me there is a lot of excitement over there on Crawford St. because of the World Series. The bloom has already fallen. It is possible that the other general managers around the league have pulled the curtain closed on Tim Purpura. You would think just by dumb luck he would have fallen into a free agent signing or a minor trade by now.

Purpura can only do what his owner allows him to do.

I am an extremely devoted fan, but I did boycott the Astros from the time that the previous owner let Nolan Ryan go until the day (McLane) bought the team. Since then I have been as fanatical and loyal as any fan can be. Maybe (McLane thinks) that off-the-field moves won’t affect the fans much, but you are wrong. Alan Ashby had it all. Hhe was great on the air (just like Dierker was), he had a player’s insight and he was a fan favorite. What else are you looking for? Did he do something to upset you? I haven’t decided whether to boycott again (not that you much care about one fan) and I would love to hear your rationale before I decide.

I’ll bet you hear from Drayton.

I’m really going to miss his calling it like he saw it with the Astros, even if he came across as negative at times.

Lots of people agree with you.

I was shocked to hear that the Astros had dismissed Alan Ashby. No

matter what words I use, they cannot convey completely how I really feel

about this. Some printable ones would be: disgusting; revolting. I thought

Drayton wanted good (in terms of both personal character and professional)

people. They hire two minor league nobodies. This now leaves no analyst who played the game. I loved hearing Ash go into the details of what a player did right/wrong and how it should be done. And he was great at interviewing players. They knew he had credibility

and had been through it all himself. It is just unbelievable that they would take the good vibes and PR from reaching the World Series and try to destroy it with moves like this.

They’ve indicated they didn’t think Alan would accept a No. 2 role to one of the new guys. But they never asked.

I just love this. The Astros haven’t made a single move this season except firing Alan Ashby. Absolutely ridiculous. Do they try this hard to upset their fans?

Here’s a question for ya. How many major league teams don’t have a former player as either a play-by-play guy or analyst?

You probably have access to that kind of information.

How long will Milo hang around? When he does hang it up, there will be no ties to the “old” Astros. These new guys may turn out to be pretty good, but why start with absolutely no-name guys. Couldn’t we have attracted some familiar names and voices?

I grew up with Gene Elston and wish he were still around, but at least Milo was a known quantity when he came in.

What does this do for Deshaies? Will he and Dierk still be involved in TV?

Well, this makes it twice in Alan Ashby’s lifetime that the Astros have dismissed him after giving the orginization his all. I remember when they pulled him off the team bus to inform him that he had been waived. He was still playing well at the time if my memory serves me correct. I know we are under different ownership now, but somehow if still feels as if an injustice has been served. I am disappointed today to be an Astros fan. And yes, I will voice my opionion to Drayton.

I agree with the Astros, being a fan since early 60s I didnt care much for Ashbys style, he was always describing the obvious I wish him well and hope our new direction works out. I havent been much on the Clemens wagon sign or dont, hold the team back for one individual is not team unity on both sides.

While the Texan’s decision making as a whole in drafts and trades has been undeniably terrible, we must give credit where credit is do. As evidenced by today’s pro bowl announcement, Jerome Mathis has been greater than advertised and the Texan’s brass should be applauded for making the decision to draft him. I have a feeling that when the Texans turn it around, Jerome will have plenty to do with it.

I didn’t think Ashby was a good play by play man. I have been listening to him substitute for Milo during specific innings for years, and I wasn’t impressed. I did think he was a great number 2 man, and I wish he would have kept that role with the new play-by-play person. I don’t know the two new broadcasters, but I have to admit that based on what Drayton has done with the Astros since he bought them he deserves the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the new broadcast team. I am glad we didn’t sign Nomar to a ridiculous contract. The Astros are not praised enough for some of their smart moves. Do Astros fans not follow the Yankees at all. We made it to the World Series with a payroll less than 100 million and the Yankees didn’t with a payroll almost twice as much. I think Moneyball should be required reading for all baaseball fans. Sorry for being so long. Happy Holidays.

I’m sure that the Chronicle will receive many complaints about the dismissal of Alan Ashby, but Drayton McLane is the one who should receive the flood of hate mail. I enjoyed listening to Milo and Alan covering the Astros games. With the firing of Alan, and Milo cutting back to part time, I’ll just have to watch the Astros on TV. I will not listen to these two minor leaguers, even IF they might be qualified to be hired.

I think we need a massive letter writing campaign to Drayton. Or maybe drive Roy’s bulldozer over to his house.

Drayton Mclane just said on John Granato’s show that he has not recieved many emails or calls regarding Alan Ashby. If you want to make a difference in this, you must call, email or write a letter to the Astros. Mclane laid down the challenge, lets call him on it!

I would love to write to Uncle Drayton and to tell him how disgusted I am about the release of Ashby. Would you have an address or email address to where I can voice my disappointed to him and to let him know that this was “the straw that broke the camel’s back” in cancelling my season tickets.

Last year early on in the season I criticized the team owner for making some really horrible decisions. What did they end up doing? Oh just going to the World Series for the first time in the teams history. Ashby an outstanding analyst and team player is going to be a sad loss. With that said I’m on the side of let’s try something new. They may in fact end up being a Red Barber, Vin Scully, Mel Allen, or for that matter even a Milo Hamilton. I don’t know but i’m willing to find out. What I’m sure of is that Allen with his mind and talent he’s not going to be unemployed for very long.

It’s time to sell the team to Tillman, let’s get a guy in here who is commited to building a team and will open up the wallet…….Now Drayton let’s Alan go, and bring’s in 2 kids who probably never made it past pony league…..ah, yet another finely moronic thing Drayton has done. Frankly, I’m tired of his endless repetitive babble about the fans deserve more, and that we are the true champions…We would have to be TRUE champions to sit back and watch an owner make these kind of moves. Well, my wife is headed to the store, so I think I will give her $5.00 bucks to get a couple of ribeye’s and a bag of charcoal. I dont see how you do it Mr. Pupura………Way to go Drayton!

I believe the Astros decision to replace Ashby was a good call. The team of Milo and Ashby in my opinion did not work. There was something missing during the game. Also, Ashby just does not have the right vocal presentation to be delivered over a radio.

When did Drayton become Scrooge McLane? Come on…he fires a great radio announcer in Ashby and hires some young “punks” who have nothing vested emotionally in the Astros outside of their paychecks. On top of that, he lets the Rocket go and he tries to pull the wool over our eyes by going after an already washed up Nomar.

Note to Scrooge McLane: We did not win the World Series. We were humiliated. We were swept. Don’t expect the fans to pay the ticket prices for a team that couldn’t win it and then managed to get worse during the off season.

I think that you hit the nail on the head…Alan Ashby was probably too objective for the Astros front office. As a fan it worked for me. I’m not saying that Alan was not a loyal Astros fan…I think that he was and is. But I really liked his objective analysis. He stated the truth whether or not it was the Astros party line or not. He came off as a good guy and very knowledgable…too bad McLane doesn’t agree.

Are the Astros going to dress up thier new #2 broadcaster in a cheer leaders outfit? Nice Christmas presant! There were many problems this year for the Astros. Bringing some of the problems to light made Alan expendable.

Becoming aclimated to a new voice on the radio makes me want to change the radio dial to another station.

Agree with your position that the crickets chirping from Drayton’s office are related to money. Once again, he’s taken the success of his club, and instead of running with it to further endear him to Houston, he sits on his hands tightly clutched to his purse strings. We need to aggressively puruse a bigger bat in left, or add a quality starter to the rotation since he decided to let Roger walk. Free agents continue to fly off the board without much from the Stros’s front office.

Don’t you think Millwood would fit perfectly with this staff? He’s young, an innings eater, and competitive. Not a word from Houston, and it looks like he’ll sign with Texas. Why not tangle a few dollar signs to further upgrade the rotation?

As for Ashby, I’m not terribly shocked by his dismissal. I might be in the minority, but I didn’t care for his style. While his analysis was spot on at times, I found it hard to listen to him. Much too conservative. Extremly vanilla. After a few years, he still sounded as though he was in his first season. Whether the new hires are an upgrade, however, remain to be seen.

Being a native Houstonian living in Nashville, the only way to get my daily Astros fix was listening through XM. Worst part about getting that fix? Alan Ashby. He had to be one of the most boring guys in sports radio. I loved the guy when I was a kid and he was catching, but c’mon folks, you have to admit it was the equivilent of watching paint dry.

I think getting rid of Alan Ashby, although totally within your decision-making rights was a mistake. I haven’t listened to the Astros radio broadcasts for years because of Milo Hamilton. Home team shills that do nothing but sell are boring, especially when their descriptions of the games suffer. But to replace the only legitimate analyst with two minor league wannabes who do not have any frame of reference for insight into the major league game smacks of contempt for the fans who will have to suffer through these two newbies’ learning curve.

Quote: ~”I grew up with Gene Elston and wish he were still around, but at least Milo was a known quantity when he came in.”~

Gene is still around and doing well. He just finished publishing his fouth book. Don’t expect him back in any broadcast booth anytime soon although he is still very capable considering he still has that smooth broadcasters voice and a razor sharp mind. He doesn’t want any part of the politics that goes along with it. He’s put his time in and has earned the right to finally call his own shots.

I was never that impressed with Ashby on the radio. I never thought he had the same “polish” that most broadcasters do. Last year everyone in Houston burried the Astros before the season even started because they didn’t make the off season moves the fans and media thought they should have made. Well they did better than any previous team, so shut up and let these guys run the team and you may be surprised .

Even billionaire owners have learning curves to overcome. And, that is certainly the case with Drayton McLane. He’s had to learn a lot since taking over ownership of the Astros. One of the things among many that he learned is that making money with a major league baseball team does not automatically translate into success as it does in other business endeavors. Owning a professional sports team is unique in the sense that being financially successful does not aumatically make one successful in the eyes of fans. Winning is the only yardstick of measuring how successful an owner is of a professional sports team.

The other lesson’s Drayton has learned was trying not to duplicate the mistakes of the former Astros regime under John McMullen, avoiding public relations disasters as was the case when McMullen and his hatched man Dick Wagner ran off Nolan Ryan. Obviously McLane was aware of the damage done and made it a priority to some day rectify this mistake at some point in the future. Once Ryan’s personal services contract expired with the Texas Rangers, McLane immediately did what it took to bring Nolan back into the Astros fold. The other point was to make sure that he locked up the current Astros icons Bagwell and Biggio long term keeping them in Houston uniforms avoiding the possibility of another potential Nolan Ryan disaster in the future.

The current lesson that Mr. McLane is now learning is the relationship and loyalty certain broadcasters build with the teams fan base. Obviously he didnot consider the importance of this when he and Gardner announced that Ashby would not be retained by the organization for the 2006 season.

Several years ago when McLane first took over ownership of the team he made a promise to the fans that he was going to correct the mistakes made by the former ownership. But, in McLane’s mind, he apparently felt that the only serious mistake made by former Astros owner John McMullen was the Nolan Ryan fiasco because the other huge PR blunder under McMullen was never addressed or corrected by McLane and that blunder was the shameless and disgraceful way Astros broadcaster Gene Elston was treated and unceremonially cast away by McMullen & Co. after being the voice of the team for 25 consecutive years.

I’ve already read several comments from fans who are extremely upset of the way Ashby was treated. I read one comment that was titled “First Elston, Now this” connecting the two PR disasters. Obviously Alan Ashby has many loyal followers and I’m sure most of those are among the age group who also followed Ashby’s career as the Astros starting catcher before he even considered stepping into broadcasting.

A teams broadcaster to a degree will build a very personal relationshp with the fan, especially over radio because he is the eyes and ears of the fans thus the feeling by the listener/fan that the broadcaster is speaking directly to you. And, this is how Alan Ashby is perceived by his fan base and this was also how Gene Elston was perceived by his fan base. But, because Gene was our eyes and ears for a quarter of a century, we literally grew up with him and when he was let go without an ounce of appreciation or respect as was the case with Ashby the disgust by the Elston fan base was 100 fold more worse than what we are seeing with respect to Alan and his fan base.

Has Drayton now learned a new lesson? That some broadcasters have a very special and personal relationship with the fan base, i.e. his paying customers? John McMullen and Dick Wagner certainly didn’t understand this concerning Elston or they simply didn’t care. In the case of Mr. McLane, I truly believe that he does care. He simply does not understand – or didn’t understand up until a couple of days ago – the strong emotional attachment fans build with their local broadcasters, especially after they’ve been around a few years.

I also believe this is why McLane never made any effort to try to heal the wounds caused with many long time Astros fans because of the firing of Gene Elston in the offseason of 1986.

Maybe he will now understand why many of us still feel the way we do about Gene Elston and why many fans feel the way they do about Alan Ashby. Consider this one more learning curve hopefully overcome by this owner.

Like so many, I’m disappointed that Alan Ashby has been canned. He definately has been anjoyable to watch and listen to through the years. I remember years ago he moved to Florida to become a sports newscaster, but he came back to the good ol ‘Stros.

What disturbs me more, is the realization that this might also be the fate of Jim Deshaies. In my opinion, Jim has been an even better color man than Ash or Larry Deirker. What will his fate be?

Lastly, I wanna say I do understand the reasoning behind bringing these 2 new guys in. Milo won’t be broadcasting forever. I think the idea is to get Astro fans use to new voices calling the games. It’s ashame however there couldnt have been something worked out such as – Milo/Ash calling home games and new guys/Deshais calling away games. Geee, why wasn’t I consulted? lol

At the time of his waiving in 1989, Alan Ashby was a 37-year-old catcher hitting .164 in 61 at bats. He wasn’t playing. Pulling him off the team bus was bush league, but the decision to release him as a player seems reasonable. Your memory fails you.

Personally, I have grown up an Astros fan and while not being that old, I remember Ashby the player, and I absolutely thought he was great. Being older now, I also have heard him on the broadcasts, and while I thought that what he brought to that broadcast wasn’t the best, I did like it when he and Milo were together. In that regard, I think he should have stayed on as the number two guy to say the least.

On to the non-moves being made by the Stros…. As a fan, I will vote with my wallet. I didn’t like the way last year started but it turned out well. I think that had a lot more to do with Clemens being around, which he may not this year. I think the honchos not offering arbitration says alot, and if I was Clemens, except for the fans, I wouldn’t come back to an organization that doesn’t do anything to show me they are trying their best to win. Cause let’s be honest, they aren’t. I don’t want them to do anything stupid either as a fan, but Reggie Sanders or Rondell White wouldn’t be stupid moves!

I think that it so funny that Drayton McLane tells us about him not getting any e-mails about all of this. It’s because he doesnt have an e-mail address the public can contact him with. See the astros web-site.

. Astros players and coaches do not have email. Please send correspondence as indicated above.

For “email to Drayton” instructions, select Help|Contact Us (then Other) at the bottom of the http://www.Astros.com page (rather than E-Mail/Other as stated earlier in the posts)

I view the Ashby firing in the same category as moving Billy Wagner following his “tape job” interview. Granted, Alan’s comments have been more measured (and subtle) than Billy’s – and he didn’t poke his finger in Drayton’s eye like Billy did – but it’s the same thing. Drayton has thin skin and all his employees need to drink the kool-aid and learn to yuck it up about how marvelous everything is in their quest to become champions. As part of Alan’s commentary, he did try to be objective and baseball fans appreciated it. The talk radio guys – and sports writers – sometimes tend to go overboard on negativity to generate some buzz (I realize you guys aren’t Astros employees or you wouldn’t be for long) – but I think there’s room for honest discussion of strengths and weaknesses in a local broadcast booth. If Drayton is going to insist on being surrounded by YES men (and women), credibility – and interest – will suffer……

Alan was a great broadcaster. I loved hearing him talk from personal experience. I don’t see how these two guys, with nothing up to this point invested in the Astros, can possibly come off as genuine as Ashby. I feel betrayed. I LOVE the Astros. Could these two new guys even name our batting order before they were hired?

You said in your column that Purpura has not added a big name player during his tenure. Actually, he has not added a player of any caliber during his tenure. Every single player on the 25 man roster is Gerry Hunsicker’s.Acquiring players like Wheeler and Backe don’t hurt the payroll, and don’t empty out the farm system.You also talked about Burke and Scott splitting time in left field next year.Last I checked, Bagwell’s at first, while Lane , Taveras, and Berkman are in the outfield.As far as Nomar, Peter Gammons said he was the best player in the world last Spring training before that freak injury. If you can rationalize a $7.5 million contract for the worst offensive catcher in baseball, but not a $6 mil contract for one of the best hitters of this era, than I’m very late to class.

Drayton McLane can get a half-million emails protesting Ashby’s firing–whether he knows how to check his email or not–and it won’t make any difference. He has shown a marked disinterest in what the fans want since the early days of his ownership of the franchise–though it must be said that sometimes HE has been right and WE have been wrong.

But I will make this prediction: At some point during the next season, they will make still more “adjustments” behind the microphone, prompted by falling ratings. You hit the nail on the head: How much interest can there be in the ruminations of a couple of broadcast careerists with no prior connection to this team? What will be the level of quality of “inside information” generated from guys who know (and are known by) no one in the clubhouse?

I suspect the dip in quality of the broadcasts is going to be palpable–baseball “color” commentary is an essential part of any broadcast given the pace of the game. And Milo has been slipping dramatically of late (hence the comment regarding Ash’s “gentle correction” of Milo). “Old horse headed for the barn” and all that.

Let’s see how ol’ Drayton screws up trading for Tejada. I’m sure he already knows he’s too cheap to take on the 4 year contract, but I’m willing to place wagers that he’ll at least wet Stros fans appetites before he decides to tell Purpura ‘no thanks.’ We deserve better…

I liked Alan Ashby well-enough as a color guy, but found his play-by-play style awkward, dry, and generally unlistenable. I’d have been just fine with him staying as a color guy, but I can’t disagree with the decision to not hire him for play-by-play.

I really like Jim Deshaies as a color guy – insightful and entertaining.

Umm, have to say that the Astros seem to move in opposite direction of what the fans want, and sometimes it even works. But I don’t know about this time. Ashby has been good for the team, knows the team, and tells it like it is. Mr. McLane surely can tolerate a little bit of “truth”, he keeps Dierker around and I find Direker just a bit too negative. But I like to read and hear Dierker’s opinions too. I find those that tell it like they see it are the ones that keep interest up the most.

I am discouraged by the lack of on the field moves and the ridiculous off the field move concerning Alan Ashby. How can I e-mail the organization about Ashby and let them hear a fan’s opinion. I’m sure it won’t do any good, butit’s worth trying. So does anyone know Drayton’s or the team’s e-mail.

alan ashby is a wealth of knowledge an anecdotes, with a career that spans several baseball eras. I feel though, that he afforded milo too much respect at the expense of his own career.milo, it seems didn’t care to mentor him either.ashby and jim deshaies started about the same time and were on similar skill levels.I think jimmy d benifitted more working with brown, worrell, and lucas.finally i think the radio team should be greg lucas and alan

It’s not like Ash was the greatest radio guy of all time, but he was very good and brought an important perspective and there is absolutely no reason to bring in new people when you had a very competent former player who knows the team’s recent history so well. In Ashby, the Astros could have had a franchise broadcaster who the fans would have felt comfortable with for decades. It is personalities like Ashby that make it a pleasure to root for a smaller market team.

Just a bone headed move! The guy was an Astro legend who could call the game by giving the listners a player’s point of view as well as from a fans perspective. Remember what happened when Coke switched formula’s to “New Coke”…….

Havng been the Voice of the Astrodome for four yeas in the late 60”s and early 70′s, Alan Ashby brought more than just a great analysis to the broadcast..With Milo, they were the best current broadcast team. Lowell Pass and Gene Elston were popular but they were not as good as Milo and Ashby together. It’s a shame he had to be replaced by just another voice but not an expert opinion.

I sure hate that Ashby is gone now & after hearing these new guys on the radio, I sure wont hear them again. In the begining Ashby was just ok but he caught on & i loved to hear him give his personal experience he had compared to what was happening in the game. We miss you Alan.